Hotel review: Golf and spa worth travelling for in this new Galway five-star resort
Galway’s new five-star golf resort, The Hawthorn by Galway Bay, offers gorgeous views, a chic spa, and outstanding staff
The Hawthorn, Galway Bay
Thu, 06 Aug, 2026 - 15:59
Jillian Bolger
The Hawthorn by Galway Bay
Rinville Village, Co Galway
Our rating: 8/10
Location
Overlooking Galway Bay, the new Hawthorn by Galway Bay stands on the site of an old hotel. It’s a scenic waterside spot on the edge of Oranmore, nestling between Rinville Harbour and Rinville Point.
Offering glorious views across the golf course to Salthill and beyond, and with thoughtful planting that will mature nicely, a walk along the shoreline looking out at the Galway Hookers racing is bliss. Some 15km from Galway City and 15 minutes from the M6, it’s easy to reach from Cork and Dublin.
8.5/10
Style & design
While the facade of The Hawthorn isn’t especially noteworthy, inside, it’s a different story with a spacious light-filled lobby, with striking views across the fairways, and a collection of design-led furniture that’s stylish and beautiful. A huge piece of polished bog oak, found by the owners, makes a statement console for a fabulous display of fresh wildflowers.
So far, so five-star. With many beautiful areas, including smart corridors, elegant pool area, comfy bedrooms and a delightful restaurant, we find the decor a little overdone in places. Competing materials, mixed metals, some over-the-top lighting and Irish art that feels bland, can detract from many thoughtful design features. It is smart and modern but falls short of having its own unique Irish identity.
8/10
Service
The Oystercatcher at The Hawthorn by Galway Bay
Staff at The Hawthorn are excellent. Young, willing and genuinely friendly, they look slick and smart in pared-back uniforms of beige chinos, white T-shirts, white trainers, and navy blazers. From the moment you arrive to the minute you depart, they care, cosset and charm. From a comprehensive check-in experience, to warm chats in the lobby and doors held open at every turn, it’s positive, upbeat, fun and professional. Service in The Skylark is especially lovely.
9/10
Guest rooms
Our spacious suite enjoys soothing views to the sea, with a comfortable bed, elegant seating, excellent wardrobes and a perfect bathroom with fabulous free-standing bath and generous shower. Full marks for the luxurious robes and towels (with even more velvety, lined robes in the spa).
The colourscheme is restful though the palette is broad and doesn’t quite come together — with too many tones, materials and brash bedside lamps.
Smart technology abounds, from the easy-to-use control panel that manages the curtains to mood settings on the lights. We find there is too much furniture in our room, though, and the abundance of soft strip lighting is a bit much. Though restful and relaxing, the room is an unsuccessful shape and the decor feels overworked.
Exquisitely scented Maison Caulières toiletries were specially commissioned for the property and are a treat. Jing herbal tea, Barrys Tea and Irish roasted Hawthorn coffee are supplemented by fresh milk, juice from The Apple Farm in Tipperary and Irish crisps. It’s a decent offering but the black ceramic mugs are bizarre – with no handles they become far too hot to pick up and drink from. Handmade Hawthorn chocolates at turndown are first rate and you can buy more at the hotel’s Chocolate Nest.
9/10
On the menu
Breakfast is à la carte and really excellent. Highlights include little pots of fresh, infused fruit zinging with flavour and perfect Eggs Florentine. For lunch, soba ramen in The Oystercatcher was a triumph — silken noodles, rich broth and perfect, plump tempura prawns.
Dinner in The Skylark was inconsistent and needs work. Starters were underwhelming: with an undercooked potato fondant, and Goatsbridge Trout on a plank had bland woodland cream and poor novelty bread wrapped around a stick. Mains were better — with tasty lamb rump in deeply flavoured jus and great heritage carrots, but why not share its provenance (Connemara) on the menu. Desserts were exquisite, a citrus confection the standout plate. The clubhouse’s The 2 Iron serves a good burger and fish and chips.
8/10
Activities & amenities
The Spa at The Hawthorn by Galway Bay
Golf is the real draw here, with the waterside championship course receiving on-going upgrades that includes refreshed holes, and a new clubhouse. The gorgeous pool area is also worth travelling for, with its steam room, Finnish and infrared saunas, ice plunge, indoor vitality pool and outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi. Factor in seaweed baths, a spa with a view and a sublime restorative massage with an outstanding therapist and there’s much to love.
9/10
The bill
B&B from €450.
Room for improvement? A large fountain in the carpark with a shimmering silver hawthorn tree sculpture – the hotel’s beautiful logo – is illuminated by gaudy multi-coloured lights that look tacky and off-brand. I hope they replace the lights immediately.
Access for guests with disabilities? Yes. The hotel is easy to navigate in a wheelchair with several accessible guestrooms.
Family-friendly? Plenty of local families seem to dine at the clubhouse on weekends, but the hotel feels more suited to adults.
